DOCSLIB.ORG

Dry Falls Visitor Center Due to the Fact That Many Travelers Saw These Unusual Landforms in the Landscape As They Drove the Coulee Corridor

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Dry Falls Visitor Center Due to the Fact That Many Travelers Saw These Unusual Landforms in the Landscape As They Drove the Coulee Corridor Interactive Design Approach IMMERSIVE Theater Topo Model The design approach for the exhibits is closely integrated with the Seating architecture. The layering of massive, linear building walls pro- for 50-60 EXHIBIT vides a direction for the design and layout of exhibit components. Gallery Real ‘Today’ erratic OUTDOOR Terrace Building walls are cut open at strategic points to accommodate WITH EXhibits specific exhibits and to allow for circulation. Smaller, wall-panel exhibits are used for supports and dividers. Equipment ‘Volcanic ‘Ice Age Floods’ Room Period’ Approaching the center, visitors are forced to walk around a mas- sive erratic – these huge boulders are seemingly deposited directly Gallery Animal Modelled erratic Lava flow overhead Freestanding time line animal cutouts on the path to the front door. The displaced rock serves as a strong Welcome in floor icon of the violent events that occurred during the Ice Age Floods. Through the Visitor Center’s front doors, visitors are startled to see another massive erratic precariously wedged overhead between W M Retail / cafe the two parallel building walls. Just out of reach it makes an un- usual photo opportunity for visitors who puzzle over how the rock terrace stays in place. From an interpretive standpoint, it is important to Outdoor Classroom realize no actual erratics are present in the Sun Lakes-Dry Falls with Amphitheater State Park landscape. During the floods, water was moving too quickly for erratics to be deposited at Dry Falls - they were car- ried downstream and deposited in the Quincy and Pasco basins many miles away. However, the results of the visioning workshop determined that erratics are an important and exciting flood fea- ture to display at the Dry Falls Visitor Center due to the fact that many travelers saw these unusual landforms in the landscape as they drove the Coulee Corridor. An interpretive panel including information about erratics provides visitors an opportunity to learn about what they have seen and how these landforms fit into the IAF story. The linear layout of the building naturally directs visitors toward the edge of the escarpment. Two parallel walls form a long gal- lery, flanked on one side by an animal timeline. A graphic tells the chronological story of the region, accompanied by full-size cutouts representing some of the more surprising inhabitants of the land before and after the floods. Visitors will be startled to see represen- tations of mammoths, giant sloths and camels. Example of Welcoming Desk Gallery Exhibit Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission 3737 The theater is the first stop on many visitors’ explorations of the Unique, World Class Resource Another version of this initiative includes creating a virtual trail, center. The building walls seem to give way to natural outcrop- consisting of road maps, interpretive centers and roadside exhibits. pings that envelop the seating area. In front of the benches, the This trail would allow everyone — individual cities, public parks, Dry Falls is one of the great geological wonders of the world. rockwork is split open to reveal a distant view of sky and land- Tribes, highway agencies, educational institutes and interested Carved by the massive Ice Age floods, the former waterfall is now scape. A rear projection screen fills the gap in the rock and is used landowners — to tell and teach the public a unified story in a co- a stark reminder of the cataclysmic events of times past. In its to illustrate the geological events that lead to the final catastrophic ordinated way. time, the 400-foot cliff and 3.5-mile wide waterfall was four times deluge. Special effects may include water spray, fleeing animals the size of Niagara Falls. Today it overlooks a desert oasis filled and tumbling rocks that appear from behind layers of scrim, the- Tour routes follow the flood route and include thirteen “gateway with lakes and abundant wildlife. atrical lighting and a massive sound system that shakes the bones communities” from Missoula, Montana to Astoria, Oregon. Dry of visitors. Falls has been suggested to be the key interpretive center, serv- This world class natural resource is under utilized, as Dry Falls, and ing as a “hub” to generate interest and provide information on floods that created them remain largely unknown to the general As visitors progress further into the building, they emerge from other IAF interpretive resources along the trail. Interpretation of public. The Ice Age floods are a remarkable part of our natural the darker, dramatically lit theater experience into a naturally-lit different parts of the flood story should be allocated appropriately heritage having profoundly affected the geography and ways of exhibit gallery. This space is dominated by a contour map, which along the trail and throughout the region. life in the region. To accomplish the goals as stated in WSPRC’s uses internal LED lighting and monitors to illustrate the flow of ice mission to use State Parks to convey the legacy of the floods, each and water, as well as changes in vegetation and settlement across Coulee Corridor National Scenic Byway park project will have it’s own unique opportunities and challenges the landscape of the region. Around this interactive topographic Washington State Parks is engaged in a continued dialog with the which require unique innovative design solutions. The DFVC area model, the building walls are cut away to accommodate a volcano Coulee Corridor National Scenic Byway to determine how best to design project has made great strides to meet these challenges cross-section that seems to draw its fiery contents from the floor of enhance travelers’ experiences without impacting the visual qual- and is poised provide a world class experience for all who visit this the Center. Smoke, ash and other effects are animated on a large ity or natural resources of the Byway. These organizations and amazing resource. monitor beyond the cone as the exhibit cycles through one erup- other partners will continue to collaborate to develop strategies tion after another. Internally-lit, sculpted glass fills another gap in to interpret and conserve what is special, while at the same time the building wall representing the massive ice dams that eventu- Partnerships promote its use and enjoyment. ally broke and let loose the torrents of water. Fossils – large and dramatic, as well as small and precious – are set into the earthen Through the planning and development of improvements Sun National Park Service walls throughout the building. Lakes-Dry Falls State Park, WSPRC has a tremendous opportunity The Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail legislation before Con- to create new, mutually beneficial partnerships with a range of or- gress would be overseen by the National Park Service. This over- The end wall of the exhibit gallery is completely glazed, allowing ganizations as part of the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. sight role and the complementary mission and goals of both park large amounts of natural light to spill in, providing visitors with services make them natural partners. spectacular views of the landscape and the falls. From this vantage Congress has passed legislation to create an Ice Age Floods Na- point, they can see a continuation of the animal timeline extending tional Geologic Trail that would follow the Ice Age Floods route. Ice Age Floods Institute outside with steel cutouts of contemporary animals grazing near the The proposed 600-mile geological trail would include interpretive The Ice Age Floods Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated precipice edge. On the opposite side, another line of silhouetted centers and roadside pullouts with signs and markers interpreting to the authoritative presentation of the story of the floods. It is a cutouts represent recent and current human inhabitants. Interpre- the flood sites. tremendous intellectual and scientific resource. tive panels on the terrace and the trail are also visible from this van- tage point, inviting visitors to continue their exploration outdoors. Dry Falls Visitor Center Area Design 38 1. Connell Local Resources 2. Othello The Park staff have already begun organizing outdoor events that 3. Columbia National Wildlife Refuge will build community and attract visitors. For example, Flood Days 4. Potholes State Park is a week long festival of local events. Several site improvements, 5. Moses Lake such as an outdoor interpretive gathering area, picnic area, shade 6. Rocky Ford Creek Wildlife Site structures, wind buffers as well as a noise barrier from the highway traffic would greatly enhance the Park’s ability to host events. 7. Glacial Erratics 8. Ephrata Cultural History 9. Soap Lake The Dry Falls site was likely a resource gathering site for the Colville 10. Lake Lenore Caves and/or Yakama Tribes in times past. This interpretation should be 11. Lenore / Alkai Lake Wildlife Refuge undertaken in full partnership with the groups whose history is 12. Blue Lake Rest Area being interpreted. During the visioning workshop a representative 13. Sun Lakes State Park from the Colville Tribes expressed the Tribes’ desire to interpret 14. Dry Falls Interpretive Center their own history in a comprehensive manner. Their history could 15. Coulee City Marina and Park be briefly interpreted at Dry Falls, where visitors could be directed 16. Banks Lake to other tribal museums for further interpretation. 17. The Grand Coulee 18. Million Dollar Mile 19. Steamboat Rock State Park 20. Northrup Canyon Eagle View
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Washington Geology
    JULY 1978 VOLUME 6 - NUMBER 3 A PLBLICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WASHINGTON GEOWGIC NEWSLETTER BERT L.COLE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS RALPH A BESWICK, Supervisor VAUGHN E. LIVINGSTON,JR.,State Geologist DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES DEPARTMENT Of NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES, OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, 98504 LOCATION MAP : DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES DEPT. SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES t ~ i~L f ...J ~ i ,...... N g a: ~ ~OGY ANO EARTH <t tt RESOURCES D u -, t STATE CAPITOL ... TACOMA S~TILE- IDEPT. HIGHWAYS CITY CENTER FREEWAY EXIT PORTLA~ STATE CAPITOL EXIT Vaughn E. (Ted) Livingston, Jr., Supervisor Geologic Staff J. Eric Schuster, Assistant Supervisor Minerals and Energy Geologists Land Use Geologists Carl McFarland James G. Rigby Allen J. Fiksdal Keith L. Stoffel Clint Milne Glennda B. Tucker Kurt L. 0th berg Gerald W. Thorsen Wayne S. Moen Ellis R. Vonheeder Pamela Palmer Weldon W. Rau Charles W. Walker Regulations and Operations Surface Mined Land Reclamation and Oil and Gos Conservation Act Donald M. Ford, Assistant Supervisor Publications: Library: Laboratory: Secretaries: Loura Broy Connie Manson Arnold W. Bowman Patricia Ames Keith Ikerd Cherie Dunwoody Wonda Walker Kim Summers Pamela Whitlock Mailing address: Deportment of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resou rces Olympia, WA 98504 (206) 753-6183 ORIGIN OF THE GRAND COULEE AND DRY FALLS by Ted Livingston Washington State hos many interesting geo­ original terrain until in the Grand Coulee area it was logic features. Among the more outstanding dre the completely buried. During the course of these erup­ Grand Coulee and Dry Falls .
    [Show full text]
  • Top 26 Trails in Grant County 2020
    and 12 Watchable Wildlife Units For more information, please contact: Grant County Tourism Commission P.O. Box 37, Ephrata, WA 98823 509.765.7888 • 800.992.6234 In Grant County, Washington TourGrantCounty.com TOP TRAILS Grant County has some of the most scenic and pristine vistas, hiking trails and outdoor 26 recreational opportunities in Washington State. and 12 Watchable Wildlife Units Grant County is known for its varied landscapes on a high desert plateau with coulees, lakes, in Grant County Washington reservoirs, sand dunes, canals, rivers, creeks, and other waterways. These diverse ecosystems Grant County Tourism Commission For Additional copies please contact: support a remarkable variety of fish and PO Box 37 Jerry T. Gingrich wildlife species that contribute to the economic, Ephrata, Washington 98837 Grant County Tourism Commission recreational and cultural life of the County. www.tourgrantcounty.com Grant County Courthouse PO Box 37 Ephrata, WA 98837 No part of this book may be reproduced in (509) 754-2011, Ext. 2931 any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without permission in For more information on writing from the Grant County Tourism Grant County accommodations Commission. www.tourgrantcounty.com © 2019, Grant County Tourism Commission Second printing, 10m Trails copy and photographs Book, map and cover design by: provided by: Denise Adam Graphic Design Cameron Smith, Lisa Laughlin, J. Kemble, Veradale, WA 99037 Shawn Cardwell, Mark Amara, (509) 891-0873 Emry Dinman, Harley Price, [email protected] Sebastian Moraga and Madison White Printed by: Rewriting and editing by: Mark Amara Pressworks 2717 N. Perry Street Watchable Wildlife copy and Spokane, Washington 99207 photographs provided by: (509) 462-7627 Washington Department of [email protected] Fish and Wildlife Photograph by Lisa Laughlin CONTENTS CONTENTS Grant County Trails and Hiking Grant County Watchable Wildlife Viewing Upper Grand Coulee Area 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Lesson 1 the Columbia River, a River of Power
    Lesson 1 The Columbia River, a River of Power Overview RIVER OF POWER BIG IDEA: The Columbia River System was initially changed and engineered for human benefit Disciplinary Core Ideas in the 20th Century, but now balance is being sought between human needs and restoration of habitat. Science 4-ESS3-1 – Obtain and combine Lesson 1 introduces students to the River of Power information to describe that energy curriculum unit and the main ideas that they will investigate and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the during the eleven lessons that make up the unit. This lesson environment. (Clarification Statement: focuses students on the topics of the Columbia River, dams, Examples of renewable energy and stakeholders. Through an initial brain storming session resources could include wind energy, students record and share their current understanding of the water behind dams, and sunlight; main ideas of the unit. This serves as a pre-unit assessment nonrenewable energy resources are fossil fuels and fissile materials. of their understanding and an opportunity to identify student Examples of environmental effects misconceptions. Students are also introduced to the main could include loss of habitat to dams, ideas of the unit by viewing the DVD selection Rivers to loss of habitat from surface mining, Power. Their understanding of the Columbia River and the and air pollution from burning of fossil fuels.) stakeholders who depend on the river is deepened through the initial reading selection in the student book Voyage to the Social Studies Pacific. Economics 2.4.1 Understands how geography, natural resources, Students set up their science notebook, which they will climate, and available labor use to record ideas and observations throughout the unit.
    [Show full text]
  • Millersylvania State Park
    STEAMBOAT ROCK STATE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN November 2010 Washington State Parks’ Mission: The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission acquires, operates, enhances, and protects a diverse system of recreational, cultural, and natural sites. The Commission fosters outdoor recreation and education statewide to provide enjoyment and enrichment for all and a valued legacy to future generations. Steamboat Rock State Park Management Plan Page 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND CONTACTS The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission gratefully acknowledges the many stakeholders and the staff of Steamboat Rock State Park who participated in public meetings, reviewed voluminous materials, and made this a better plan because of it. Plan Author Andrew Fielding, Environmental Planner, Eastern Region Steamboat Rock State Park Area Management Planning Team Tom Poplawski, Steamboat Rock State Park Manager Jim Harris, Eastern Region Director Tom Ernsberger, Eastern Region Operations Manager Brian Hovis, Administrator, Policy and Governmental Affairs, Olympia Headquarters Bill Fraser, Parks Planner, Eastern Region Andrew Fielding, Environmental Planner, Eastern Region Washington State Park and Recreation Commission 1111 Israel Road SW, Olympia, WA 98504 Tel: (360) 902-8500 Fax: (360) 753-1591 TDD: (360) 664-3133 Commissioners (at time of land classification adoption): Fred Olson, Chair Joe Taller, Vice Chair Rodger Schmitt, Secretary Eliot Scull Lucinda S. Whaley Patricia T. Lantz Cecilia Vogt Rex Derr, Director Steamboat Rock State Park Management Plan
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    SECTION 32 – Table of Contents 32 Upper Columbia Subbasin Assessment – Terrestrial...................................... 2 32.1 Focal Habitats: Current Distribution, Limiting Factors, and Condition ............................2 32.2 Wildlife of the Upper Columbia Subbasin.......................................................................13 32.3 Summary of Terrestrial Resource Limiting Factors ........................................................19 32.4 Interpretation and Synthesis.............................................................................................21 32-1 32 Upper Columbia Subbasin Assessment – Terrestrial 32.1 Focal Habitats: Current Distribution, Limiting Factors, and Condition Vegetation in the Upper Columbia Subbasin is dominated by interior mixed conifer forest, ponderosa pine forests, eastside interior grasslands, and shrub-steppe habitats. Montane mixed conifer forest, upland aspen forest, and lodgepole pine forests are present in the high elevations along with montane coniferous wetlands. Timber management is an important land use in the Subbasin on Tribal, state, federal, and private timberlands. Agriculture and grazing are other dominant land uses, particularly within the Colville River valley, on the plateaus above Lake Roosevelt, and in the extreme southern portion of the Subbasin. The largest urban areas in the Subbasin boundary include Chewelah, Colville, Kettle Falls, Davenport, and Grand Coulee. Figure 29.4 (Section 29) shows the current distribution of wildlife-habitat types in the Upper
    [Show full text]
  • Top 35 Fishing Waters of Grant County
    TOP35 FISHING WATERS In Grant County, Washington For more information, please contact: Grant County Tourism Commission P.O. Box 37, Ephrata, WA 98823 509.765.7888 • 800.992.6234 TourGrantCounty.com CONTENTS Grant County Tourism Commission The Top 35 Fishing Waters In Grant County, Washington PO Box 37 1. Potholes Reservoir (28,000 acres) .................................................1 Ephrata, Washington 98837 2. Banks Lake (24,900 acres) .......................................................2 TOP 3. Moses Lake (6,800 acres) .......................................................3 No part of this book may be reproduced in any 4. Blue Lake (534 acres) ...........................................................4 3 form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other 5. Park Lake (338 acres) ...........................................................5 5 means, without permission in writing from the 6. Burke Lake (69 acres) ...........................................................6 Grant County Tourism Commission. 7. Martha Lake (15 acres) ..........................................................7 FISHING 8. Corral Lake (70 acres) ...........................................................8 © 2019, Grant County Tourism Commission Fifth printing, 10m 9. Priest Lake Pool (below Wanapum Dam) ...........................................8 WATERS 10. Hanford Reach (below Priest Rapids Dam) .........................................10 11. Rocky Ford Creek .............................................................11 In Grant County, Washington
    [Show full text]
  • The Missoula Flood
    THE MISSOULA FLOOD Dry Falls in Grand Coulee, Washington, was the largest waterfall in the world during the Missoula Flood. Height of falls is 385 ft [117 m]. Flood waters were actually about 260 ft deep [80 m] above the top of the falls, so a more appropriate name might be Dry Cataract. KEENAN LEE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES GOLDEN COLORADO 80401 2009 The Missoula Flood 2 CONTENTS Page OVERVIEW 2 THE GLACIAL DAM 3 LAKE MISSOULA 5 THE DAM FAILURE 6 THE MISSOULA FLOOD ABOVE THE ICE DAM 6 Catastrophic Flood Features in Eddy Narrows 6 Catastrophic Flood Features in Perma Narrows 7 Catastrophic Flood Features at Camas Prairie 9 THE MISSOULA FLOOD BELOW THE ICE DAM 13 Rathdrum Prairie and Spokane 13 Cheny – Palouse Scablands 14 Grand Coulee 15 Wallula Gap and Columbia River Gorge 15 Portland to the Pacific Ocean 16 MULTIPLE MISSOULA FLOODS 17 AGE OF MISSOULA FLOODS 18 SOME REFERENCES 19 OVERVIEW About 15 000 years ago in latest Pleistocene time, glaciers from the Cordilleran ice sheet in Canada advanced southward and dammed two rivers, the Columbia River and one of its major tributaries, the Clark Fork River [Fig. 1]. One lobe of the ice sheet dammed the Columbia River, creating Lake Columbia and diverting the Columbia River into the Grand Coulee. Another lobe of the ice sheet advanced southward down the Purcell Trench to the present Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho and dammed the Clark Fork River. This created an enormous Lake Missoula, with a volume of water greater than that of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario combined [530 mi3 or 2200 km3].
    [Show full text]
  • The Columbia Basin Grand Coulee Project
    THE COLUMBIA BASIN GRAN D COULEE PROJECT The mighty Columbia sweeps out of the north on its twelve hundred mile journey to the sea. A Remarkable National Resource that will contribute perpetually to the country's wealth, prosperity, and well-being THE COLUMBIA BASI N GRAND COULEE PROJECT A REMARKABLE NATIONAL RESOURCE THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE PERPETUALLY TO THE COUNTRY'S WEALTH, PROSPERITY, AND WELL-BEING PREPARED AND PUBLISHED BY THE SPOKANE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SPOKANE, WASHINGTON MARCH, 1937 THE COLUMBIA BASIN GRAND COULEE PROJECT West Needs More Agricultural Lands Area largely taken up by Public Domain, forests, desert, mountains U>"T~VHE WIDE-OPEN SPACES OF THE WEsT'-through the years the phrase X has become a by-word carrying with it perhaps a mistaken idea of many and far-reaching ranches and farms, until one confronts facts and figures with surprise. The eleven western states, those west of the iooth meridian, including Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, are the home of somewhat more than 9% of the population of the United States, but they contain only 4.5% of the farmed and cropped area. These eleven states can never be agriculturally self-sustaining. Their towering mountain ranges, the plateaus and sweeps of sagebrush wastes and deserts, the vast stands of forest timber leave only 54,- 300,000 acres of the states' total land area of 760,400,000 acres that can be cultivated. This is only slightly larger than the State of Nebraska. Of this arable area of 54,300,000 acres, nearly one-half, or about 24,000,000 acres, is non-irrigable.
    [Show full text]
  • John W. Keys III Pump-Generating Plant
    U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation John W. Keys III Pump-Generating Plant The John W. Keys III Pump-Generating Plant pumps for irrigation and also provides important recreational water uphill 280 feet from Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake benefits to the region. to Banks Lake. This water is used to irrigate approxi- The pump-generating plant began operation in 1951. mately 670,000 acres of farmland in the Columbia Basin From 1951 to 1953, six pumping units, each rated at Project. More than 60 crops are grown in the basin and 65,000 horsepower and with a capacity to pump 1,600 distributed across the nation. cubic feet per second, were installed in the plant. Congress authorized Grand Coulee Dam in 1935, with In the early 1960s, investigations revealed the potential its primary purpose to provide water for irrigation. for power generation. Reversible pumps were installed to When the United States entered World War II in 1941, allow water from Banks Lake to flow back through the the focus of the dam shifted from irrigation to power units to generate power during periods of peak demand. production. It was not until 1943 that Congress autho- The first three generating pumps came online in 1973. rized the Columbia Basin Project to deliver water to the Two more generating pumps were installed in 1983; the farmers of central Washington State. final generating pump was installed in January 1984. Construction of the irrigation facilities began in 1948. The total generating capacity of the plant is now Components of the project include the pump-generating 314,000 kilowatts.
    [Show full text]
  • Wvter Action
    WVTER TO ACTION GRAND COULEE DAM AND LAKE ROOSEVELT U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION- BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION -U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ake Roosevelt has steadily gained in popularity as a summer tourist attraction. t High reservoir levels most years provide visitors with a rich variety of recreational opportunities. But many people are not aware of the full story behind Grand Coulee Dam and the great lake it created. This brochure explains the origin of Lake Roosevelt, why it was built and how it serves the people of the Pacific Northwest. It represents a unified effort on the part of the three federal agencies most involved in management and oversight of Lake Roosevelt and Grand Coulee Dam: the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the U.S. National Park Service. Who's responsible for what? The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built and operates the Columbia Basin Project including Grand Coulee Dam. While many parties with diverse needs and interests provide input in the pro­ ject's operation, Reclamation makes the final decisions. To contact a repre­ sentative of Reclamation, call (509) 638-1360 or write to Grand Coulee Project Office, Attention: Code 140, Grand Coulee, Washington 99133. The Bonneville Power Administration markets and distributes power gener­ ated at federal dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries. In 1980, a new federal law charged BPA with ensuring that the Northwest has an adequate sup­ ply of power, whether from hydroelectric dams or other generating resources. BPA schedules power generation at Grand Coulee Dam within constraints established by Reclamation that provide for the project's multipurpose benefits.
    [Show full text]
  • Banks Lake Drawdown Environmental Impact Statement
    Banks Lake Drawdown Final Environmental Impact Statement U.S. Department of the Interior Upper Columbia Area Office Bureau of Reclamation Ephrata Field Office Pacific Northwest Region Ephrata, Washington Boise, Idaho May 2004 MISSION STATEMENTS The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our Nation’s natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and our commitments to island communities. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Final Environmental Impact Statement Banks Lake Drawdown Douglas and Grant Counties, Washington Lead Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation For further information contact: Jim Blanchard Special Projects Officer Ephrata Field Office Bureau of Reclamation Box 815 Ephrata, WA 98823 (509) 754-0226 The Action Alternative describes the resource conditions that would occur with Banks Lake water surface elevations between 1570 feet and 1560 feet, while the No Action Alternative describes the conditions that would occur without the action, with water surface elevation between 1570 feet and 1565 feet. Both the No Action and Action Alternatives include four potential operational scenarios that could occur annually within their respective ranges, depending upon the hydrology of any given year. Both alternatives include refilling the reservoir to elevation 1570 feet by September 22. The No Action Alternative is the preferred alternative. The draft environmental impact statement provided Reclamation’s determination that the Action Alternative “may affect but is not likely to adversely affect” the federally listed bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and would have no effect on the federally listed pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) or Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis).
    [Show full text]
  • Sage Grouse (Schroeder 1997)
    STATE OF WASHINGTON October 2006 Use of CRP Fields by Greater Sage-grouse and other Shrubsteppe associated Wildlife in Washington by Michael A. Schroeder and W. Matthew Vander Haegen Washington Department of FISH AND WILDLIFE Wildlife Program Science Division Background photo by Matt Vander Haegen. Greater sage-grouse by Robert E. Bennetts Use of Conservation Reserve Program Fields by Greater Sage-Grouse and Other Shrubsteppe- associated Wildlife in Washington State Final report to USDA Farm Service Agency October 2006 Prepared by Michael A. Schroeder ([email protected]) W. Matthew Vander Haegen ([email protected]) Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Program, Science Division 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501 Recommended Citation: Schroeder, M. A., and W. M. Vander Haegen. 2006. Use of Conservation Reserve Program fields by greater sage-grouse and other shrubsteppe-associated wildlife in Washington state. Technical report prepared for US Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, WA. 2 CONTENTS Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... 4 Background..................................................................................................................... 4 Greater Sage-Grouse...................................................................................................... 4 Passerine Birds and Other Wildlife ...............................................................................
    [Show full text]